“If you pick up the phone and someone claiming to be from your bank or the police asks for your PIN number, the alarm bells should be ringing, so don’t hesitate and put the phone down on them straight away.

“Remember, your bank or the police would never ask you to reveal or enter your PIN number into your phone.

“The only time you need to use your PIN number is when you’re either withdrawing money from a cash machine, or using a Chip & Pin machine.

“Also remember that your bank or the police would never send a courier to collect your bank or credit card.

“The fraudsters may have limited information about you, such as your name and the name of your bank, which may make the scam seem more convincing, but in real life, remember again that your bank or the police would never ask for your PIN number or send a courier to pick up your bank or credit card.”